Since 2013, the AZEVN has raised a fantastic total of £1201 for WVI and thank you to all of our AZEVN Members who have helped us in this brilliant cause.
How will our AZEVN Funds help..?
Turtles, whales and dolphins were a common site off the Catalan coast, and around Barcelona’s port, just a few decades ago. However, like the rest of the Mediterranean, these days, most large marine animals are under threat with numbers dwindling at an alarming rate thanks to fishing practices, over-development, and pollution.
Each year, more than 20,000 marine turtles are accidentally hooked by the long lines of commercial fishing boats or caught in nets. If the hooks remain lodged in the animal, as is often the case, it can cause a horrible, slow and painful death. Turtles caught in nets that appear alive and active, are often released by well-meaning fishermen, but may subsequently die from decompression sickness, (the bends), having been brought to the surface too quickly in the nets.
CRAM have developed strong connections with the local community, to such an extent that they are the first port of call when an injured marine animal, like a turtle, is spotted, washed to shore or brought in by a fisherman.
Tania one of the WVI vets is based in Spain and with the support of WVI is able to provide expert treatment and train staff at CRAM to deal with some of the sick and injured animals that wash up, or are rescued, in and around the Catalan coast.
